rare mid-nineteenth century medium amber ginger ale bottle with applied rounded taper. the front of the glass is deeply embossed with the words “1852” above a vertical “john ryan / savannah, ga”. the slim, short necked bottle is finished with an applied collar that has a chip on the lip edge. the base is smooth, with a rounded heel that gives the bottle a citrate-like shape. john ryan started the excelsior bottle works in savannah, georgia in 1852, becoming the first soda bottler in the state. they manufactured soda water and carbonated beverages. the business eventually expanded and opened branches in augusta, columbus, and atlanta. the company mostly used very colorful cobalt blue bottles. john ryan would retire in 1879 and would pass away in 1885.